DNA and RNA both are polymeric molecules that are involved in various biological roles in coding, decoding, regulation, and expression of genes. The chemical structure of RNA is very similar to that of DNA, however ,they have some differences in their structures and functions .
| DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) | RNA (ribonucleic acid) |
|---|---|
| DNA molecules consists of double strands coiled around each other to form a double helix. | Unlike DNA it is more often found in nature as a single-strand folded unto itself, rather than a paired double-strand. |
| Each nucleotide in DNA is composed of a nitrogen-containing nucleobase—either guanine (G), adenine (A), thymine (T), or cytosine (C)—as well as a monosaccharide sugar called deoxyribose and a phosphate group. | Nucleotide in RNA is composed of guanine(G), adenine (A), uracil(U), or cytosine (C). RNA contains ribose (in deoxyribose there is no hydroxyl group attached to the pentose ring in the 2' position). These hydroxyl groups make RNA less stable than DNA because it is more prone to hydrolysis. |